Hinged closure assembly for a container

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment there is provided a hinged closure assembly for use with a container. The container has a continuous wall extending from a bottom to an upper edge and the container includes towelettes. The hinged closure assembly includes a mounting plate configured to mount to a surface or wall; a cover configured to hinge to the mounting plate and further configured to secure around the upper edge of the container; and a top hinged to the cover. The cover having a shaped opening configured to permit the removal of a towelette from within the container and the top is positioned to close over the shaped opening when not in use.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hinged closure assembly used with a container to allow a container to be mounting to a wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has become popular to employ various types of disposable items in containers for various industries and in everyday life. These disposable items can be dry or moist paper towels, towelettes, napkins, or other items used for cleaner or as a treatment. These containers are typically stored under cabinets or on top of a counter. In any event, it is always beneficial to have the containers within reach of the user and more desirable if the container was not on the counter. For example, if the container is resting on the counter and the counter needs to be cleaned, the container must always be moved around; similarly, if a spill occurs on the counter then the container may continuously need to be cleaned. There is therefore a need to have the container within reach of a user but not necessarily under a cabinets or on top of a counter. The present invention solves the current need by providing an easy hinged closure and bracket as a single one-piece design that can be used with a container to mount the container to a wall or surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a hinged closure assembly for use with a container. The container has a continuous wall extending from a bottom to an upper edge and the container is defined to include towelettes. The hinged closure assembly includes (a) a mounting plate configured to mount to a surface or wall; (b) a cover configured to hinge to the mounting plate and further configured to frictionally engage around the upper edge of the container, the cover having a shaped opening configured to permit the removal of a towelette from within the container; and (c) a top hinged to the cover and configured to close over the shaped opening.

In various embodiments of the present invention, the hinged closure assembly may be further defined to have a mounting plate with a substantially planar outer surface. The mounting plate would include an inner surface having a raised perimeter edge with a curved recess positioned in a lower centered section of the raised edge to accommodate a curvature defined in the wall of the container when the container is secured to the hinged closure assembly. The raised perimeter edge further includes opposing terminus wall sections forming a gap there between opposite the curved recess. The mounting plate would also include one or more mounting holes configured to receive fasteners to secure the mounting plate to a wall or surface.

In various embodiments of the present invention, the hinged closure assembly may be further defined to have a cover with a base section and a skirt extending downwardly from a terminal edge of the base section. The skirt has a diameter sized to engage and secure the upper edge of the container to the cover. The base section may further have a cut-out opening configured to allow the removal of a towelette positioned within a container secured thereto. The cover may further include a hinge mount configured to connect to the opposing terminus wall sections defined on the mounting plate such that the cover is able to pivot away from the mounting plate. In other aspects the cover may further have a raised annual ring extending upwardly from the top section. The annual ring could include a first notch positioned adjacent to the hinge mount and a second notch opposed from the first notch and positioned towards a front portion of the cover. The top may then be connected by a hinge to the first notch.

Other aspects of the present invention may have the hinge mount sized to fit within the gap formed between the opposing terminus wall sections. The hinge mount and the opposing terminus wall sections may include detents and corresponding recesses defined to receive the detents to permit the pivoting of the cover from the mounting plate.

Further variations of the invention may define a flange or lip extending from the top and configured to be positioned in the second notch towards the front portion of the cover when the top is in a closed configuration.

Furthermore, the hinged closure assembly may define the shape of the cover to be received within the raised perimeter edge defined on the mounting plate, when the cover is in a closed configuration.

Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination container with hinged closure assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the hinged closure assembly from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hinged closure assembly illustrating the opening of the cover from the mounting bracket; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hinged closure assembly illustrating a closed configuration with the top and cover closed against the mounting bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or claims of the embodiments illustrated.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is provided a container 100 and a hinged closure assembly 200 used in combination therewith to mount the container to a wall or surface. The container 100 includes a bottom 102 and a wall 110 extending upwardly therefrom. The wall 110 extends from the terminus edge of the bottom 102 and is a continuous wall 110 extending upwardly to a top edge 104. The container 100 further includes an inwardly extending ridge 106 that terminates to an opened top 108 that provides access to the enclosed wipes or towelettes. A suitable cover or top can be provided and secured about the opened top 108 to help seal the container when not in use.

The hinged closure assembly 200 includes a mounting plate 210 with a substantially planar outer surface 212 that can abut a wall or surface, and includes an inner surface 214. The inner surface 214 includes a raised perimeter edge 218 with a curved recess 216 positioned in a lower centered section of the raised edge 218 to accommodate the curvature of the container 100 when positioned and secured to the hinged closure assembly 200. The raised edge 218 further includes opposing terminus wall sections 220 forming a gap 222 there between. The position of the gap 222 is in a upper centered section opposite the curved recess 216. In addition, the opposing terminus wall sections 220 includes detents 224. One or more mounting holes 226 are provided through the mounting plate 210 to secure to a wall or surface.

The hinged closure assembly 200 further includes a hinged cover 230. The cover 230 includes a top section 232 with a skirt 236 downwardly extending from the terminal edge 234 of the top section 232. The top section includes a hinge mount 238 sized to fit within the gap 222 and has recesses 240 on the outside of the hinge mount that are positioned to engage the detents 224 on the terminus wall sections 220. When connected the cover 230 is movably attached to the mounting plate 210. It is well within the scope of the invention to switch the detents and recesses such that either may be placed on the hinged cover and mounting plate 210. The diameter of the skirt 236 is sized to frictionally engage the opened top 108 of the container, such that a container may be removably attached to the hinged cover 230 when in use. The cover 230 further includes a centered cut-out 242 to allow for the removal of towelettes from the container. The shape of the cut-out is designed to aid in the ripping of the towelettes along their perforations so the user is likely to remove a single towelette at a time. The hinged cover 230 may further include a raised annual ring 244 around the perimeter of the terminal edge 234. The raised annual ring 244 may provide for a pair of opposing notches, one 246 of the notches may be positioned towards the back of the cover near the hinge mount 238 and the other notch 248 may be positioned towards a front portion of the cover

The hinged closure assembly 200 may further include a hinged top 250 that opens to provide the user access to the cut-out and the towelettes. The hinged top 250 includes a rear section 252 that hinges to the back of the cover in the first notch 246. The hinge may be a living hinges molded into the plastic making the top and cover a single molded piece, or the two may be separate pieces hinged by any hinge mechanism known in the art. Position in the front of the top is an extended flange 254 that rests in the second notch 248. The extended flange 254 extends out from the second notch 248 to provide a user with an easy area to grasp and lift to move the top 250 away from the cover 230.

When not in use the hinged closure assembly 200 can be dosed to provide for a slim down feature that abuts nicely to any surface. In addition, an added benefit is that refill containers would not need their typical closure lids. Refills would simply come with a removable film that seals the containers. The film can be easily removed and disclosed and the container could be attached to the hinged closure assembly.

From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it is observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the embodiments illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is intended to cover, by the appended claims, all such modifications within the scope of the appended claims. 

We Claim:
 1. A hinged closure assembly for use with a container, the container having a continuous wall extending from a bottom to an upper edge and the container housing towelettes, the hinged closure assembly comprising: a mounting plate configured to mount to a surface or wall, the hinged closure assembly further having cover configured to hinge to the mounting plate and further configured to secure around the upper edge of the container, the cover having a shaped opening configured to permit the removal of a towelette from within the container, and the hinged closure assembly further having a top hinged to close over the shaped opening.
 2. The hinged closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover frictionally engages the upper edge of the container to allow the removal of an empty container and the placement of a new full container similarly configured.
 3. The hinged closure assembly of claim 1, where in the mounting plate further includes: a substantially planar outer surface; an inner surface having a raised perimeter edge with a curved recess positioned lower centered section of the raised edge to accommodate a curvature defined in the wall of the container when the container is secured to the hinged closure assembly, the raised perimeter edge further includes opposing terminus wall sections forming a gap there between; and one or more mounting holes are further provided through the mounting plate and configured to receive fasteners to secure the mounting plate to a wall or surface.
 4. The hinged closure assembly of claim 3, wherein the cover further includes: a base section; a skirt extending downwardly from a terminal edge of the base section, the skirt having a diameter sized to engage and secure a container to the cover; a cut-out opening positioned in the base section and configured to allow the removal of a towelette positioned within a container secured thereto; a hinge mount configured to hingedly connect to the opposing terminus wall sections defined on the mounting plate such that the cover is able to pivot away from the mounting plate.
 5. The hinged closure assembly of claim 4, wherein the hinge mount is sized to fit within the gap formed between the opposing terminus wall sections, and the hinge mount and the opposing terminus wall sections includes detents and corresponding recesses to receive the detents to permit the pivoting of the cover from the mounting plate.
 6. The hinged closure assembly of claim 5, wherein the cover is configured to be received within the raised perimeter edge defined on the mounting plate, when the cover is in a closed configuration.
 7. hinged closure assembly of claim 6, wherein the cover further includes a raised annual ring extending upwardly from the top section, the annual ring having a pair of opposing notches.
 8. The hinged closure assembly of claim 7, wherein one of the notches from the pair of opposing notches in the annual ring is positioned adjacent to the hinge mount and the other notch from the pair of opposing notches is positioned towards a front portion of the cover.
 9. The hinged closure assembly of claim 8, wherein the top is configured to hinge from the opposing notch positioned adjacent to the hinge mount.
 10. The hinged closure assembly of claim 9, wherein the top further includes an extended flange positioned in the opposing notch positioned towards the front portion of the cover when the top is in a closed configuration.
 11. A hinged closure assembly for use with a container, the container having a continuous wall extending from a bottom to an upper edge and the container housing towelettes, the hinged closure assembly comprising: a mounting plate configured to mount to a surface or wall; a cover configured to hinge to the mounting plate and further configured to frictionally engage around the upper edge of the container, the cover having a shaped opening configured to permit the removal of a towelette from within the container; and a top hinged to the cover and configured to close over the shaped opening.
 12. The hinged closure assembly of claim 11, where in the mounting plate further includes: a substantially planar outer surface; an inner surface having a raised perimeter edge with a curved recess positioned in a lower centered section of the raised edge to accommodate a curvature defined in the wall of the container when the container is secured to the hinged closure assembly, the raised perimeter edge further includes opposing terminus wall sections forming a gap there between; and one or more mounting holes are further provided through the mounting plate and configured to receive fasteners to secure the mounting plate to a wall or surface.
 13. The hinged closure assembly of claim 12, wherein the cover further includes: a base section; a skirt extending downwardly from a terminal edge of the base section, the skirt having a diameter sized to engage and secure a container to the cover; a cut-out opening positioned in the base section and configured to allow the removal of a towelette positioned within a container secured thereto; a hinge mount configured to hingedly connect to the opposing terminus wall sections defined on the mounting plate such that the cover is able to pivot away from the mounting plate.
 14. The hinged closure assembly of claim 13, wherein the cover further includes a raised annual ring extending upwardly from the top section, and the annual ring has a first notch positioned adjacent to the hinge mount and the annual ring has a second notch opposed from the first notch and positioned towards a front portion of the cover.
 15. The hinged closure assembly of claim 14, wherein the top is connected by a hinge to the first notch.
 16. The hinged closure assembly of claim 15, wherein the hinge mount is sized to fit within the gap formed between the opposing terminus wall sections, and the hinge mount and the opposing terminus wall sections includes detents and corresponding recesses to receive the detents to permit the pivoting of the cover from the mounting plate.
 17. The hinged closure assembly of claim 15, wherein the top further includes an extended flange positioned in the second notch positioned towards the front portion of the cover when the top is in a closed configuration.
 18. The hinged closure assembly of claim 12, wherein the cover is configured to be received within the raised perimeter edge defined on the mounting plate, when the cover is in a closed configuration. 